Leading knifemakers Rick Hinderer, Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical, ABS master smiths Jerry Fisk, Joe Keeslar, Tim Potier and Lin Rhea, Lucas Burnley, Tom Krein, Jason Brous, Murray Carter, HEPK master smith Ed Fowler and many others will be among the instructors for the 2nd Annual BLADE University.
Held the Thursday prior to and through the Saturday of the BLADE Show—the latter which will be June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta—BLADE University is a whole new concept in knife show instruction that covers knifemaking, knife collecting, engraving, Japanese swords, knife design, bushcraft, sharpening and much more.
The class schedule:
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
- Knives The ABS Way, Room 104
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Introduction to Bladesmithing—ABS master smith Tim Potier
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.: How To Make a Knife From Meteorite, with ABS master smith Lin Rhea
2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Part I of Handles and Guards, with ABS master smith Joe Keeslar
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Part II of Handles and Guards, with ABS master smith Joe Keeslar
FRIDAY, JUNE 5
- How To Grind a Knife Blade Part I, Room 109
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Proper Tools and Safety Gear/Tips, with knifemakers Tom Krein and Lucas Burnley, and Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders
-How To Grind a Knife Blade, The Courtyard
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: How To Grind, Part I, with knifemakers Tom Krein and Lucas Burnley, and Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders
-How To Grind a Knife Blade, The Courtyard
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: How To Grind, Part II, with knifemakers Tom Krein and Lucas Burnley, and Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders
- GRS Engraving Instruction, Room 107
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.: Introduction and techniques, including drawing, transfer and graver sharpening
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Hands-on engraving, including hand engraving, finishing and Q&A
- How To Sharpen Any Blade, Room 104
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: Big Knives, Axes/Tomahawks, Razors and More, with knifemaker Murray Carter
- How To Choose Your Knife, Room 104
2 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Choosing a Knife You Can Depend On For Survival, including Design Aspects, Construction and Questions to Ask The Maker, with Ed Fowler, HEPK Mastersmith
- Collecting Wartime Randall Knives, Room 109
3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m.: What’s Hot In Wartime Randall Knives, with Randall knife purveyor Gary Clinton
- Collecting & Maintaining Japanese Swords, Room 107
5 p.m.-6:15 p.m.: What To Look For When Buying a Japanese Sword and Proper Japanese Sword Care/Maintenance, with Wally Hostetter
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
- From One-Man Shop To Semi-Production/Production: How The Pros Do It, Room 107
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Jason Brous/Brous Blades
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: Rick Hinderer/Rick Hinderer Knives
- Bushcraft Knife Survival School, Room 109
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: Knife Design & Function, with Abe Elias
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Knife Skills: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Knife, Including Proper Grips and Cutting/Chopping Techniques, with Abe Elias
- Using 3D CAD/CAM Software In Knife Design & Knifemaking, Room 107
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Ryan M. Johnson, RMJ Tactical, LLC
- Designing and Making a Combat Knife, Room TBD
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Design, Manufacture, Uses, Soldiers’ Needs, Peacetime Effects and More, with knifemaker Bill Harsey and Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey of Spartan Blades
- How To Get Your Knife Design Put Into Production/Do A Factory/Custom Collaboration, Room 104
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: Knifemaker Brian Tighe and Rod Bremer of CRKT
2 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Knifemaker Tony Bose & John Sullivan of W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co.
3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m. ABS master smith Jerry Fisk & John Cammenga of White River Knife & Tool
For details on how you can enroll for BLADE University and/or to buy tickets for the BLADE Show, visit bladeshow.com or CLICK HERE. For more information, e-mail bladeshow@fwmedia.com.
Recommended for You:
Author R.J. Martin, whose knives are some of the most popular and sought-after in the industry, instructs on flat- and double-hollow-grinding knife blades. Martin a frequent contributor to BLADE® Magazine, frequency, offers up his methods for blade grinding. You won’t be disappointed. Follow along as R.J. covers:
– Profiling a Chisel-Ground Blade
– Grinding the Bevel of the Kwaiken Model
– The Finesse of Grinding
– The Feared Flat Grind
– More!
BLADE’s annual Knife Guide Issue features the newest knives and sharpeners, plus knife and axe reviews, knife sheaths, kit knives and a Knife Industry Directory.
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